Friday, October 6, 2023

Do we shine?

We were home for only 2 1/2 days before our next trip.  We didn't even bother to upack it all.  Just laundered our clothes.  We mowed the lawn.  Also watered my flowers.




Got a little freaked out by a snake who came to visit.


I looked it up.  I believe he is a Plains garter snake.  Not harmful.  But Al put some snake deterant around as we don't want him in the garage nor do we want a nest of baby snakes around!!  That happened to some friends of ours!!

Tuesday evening, I went to Legacy at our church, a program for the women.  Of course, friends are invited to come too!  We had a delicious meal and had a speaker.  Legacy meets quarterly and it is a rich time!



A friend who used to be in my young mom's Bible study before she moved away shared the heartaches and trials that she has been going through.  Many sorrows, but God is working even in that. Suffering is a part of our life here on earth.  

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you.  But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy."  Philippians 4:12-13

I would love to see what God does in the next 20 years!  Her story is not over.


We do not need to understand why affliction happens, to understand all God's ways of dealing with us.  We simply need to trust Him.  He knows best.  We find refuge in the shadow of His wings.-Psalm 36:9  To be in the shadow of someone, we need to be close by.  So, draw close to Him.  Let Him envelope you in His arms.  Let Him comfort you.  

The next morning was my young Mom's Bible study.  We are studying attitudes.  The topic was on complaining.  If GPS was used to find complainers, would it find me?


"Do all things without grumbling or complaining, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world."  Phil 2:14-15

Do I shine as a light in the darkness or does my grumbling attitude obscure the Light of Christ like clouds prevent one from seeing stars in the night sky?


I went to the nursing home to visit a friend.  She told her husband that she wants to go home.  "You aren't strong enough, dear."   I love how he loves her, helps feed her.  Such faithfulness.


I recall hearing a story of an elderly lady in the nursing home who was so lonely.  Her daughter told her to just imagine Jesus sitting in the recliner next to her.  He was with her.  The next day when the daughter arrived, she found her mother sitting on the floor with her head on the "lap of Jesus" weeping and telling Him all her sorrows.  

"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul."  Psalm 94:19

I taught our young 3-5 year olds at Awana Cubbies in the evening.  I love those precious little ones!  Memorizing Bible verses is much easier at a younger age.  Those verses I learned in my earlier years stick with me.  When I try to learn verses now, they seem to slip out of my mind.  They don't stick!  I still try though!


I am teaching them this song I learned when I was in grade school from Psalm 119:11:
    Oh, Your Word have I hid in my heart,
    that I might not sin against You,
    that I might not sin, that I might not sin,
    Your Word have I hid in my heart.

Of course in those days I learned it using the words "Thy" and "Thee".

Thursday morning was our older women's Bible study.  These ladies love to put out quite the spread!
 

Paul often begins his letters with "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."  I found out that in the culture of that time, "grace" was usually a greeting used to Gentiles.  It meant "Joy, pleasure, beauty and brightness."  "Peace", however, was used when addressing the Jewish people.  It meant "complete and total well-being."  Paul's audience was made up of both Jews and Gentiles so how appropriate for that greeting.

I left study early and as soon as Al got off work, we packed up our bags and headed out for Colorado!


We had seen that storms were expected along I-70.  Possible hail, tornadoes.  However, they stayed to the north.  Thank you for praying, Bible study friends!



They DO need rain in western Kansas and eastern Colorado though.  Rivers and ponds are dry.  We don't want storms, but rain would be wonderful!!


When clouds are darkest, it means rain is inevitable.  Father, drench me with Your love when times are darkest.  Refresh me, like the sweet smell of the air after a passing storm.  Rain on us Jesus!

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Sunrise, sunset

 We left Wisconsin as the sun was rising.


It was a foggy morning.





When we got to Dubuque, we had to give Em the experience of riding the shortest, steepest cable car in the world!




If you ever find yourself in Dubuque, Iowa, you should look up the Fenelon Place Elevator Company!

The story behind it:  In 1882, Dubuque would shut down everything for 1 1/2 hours when everyone went home for dinner.  Mr. J.K. Graves, former mayor of the town and also a former State Senator, lived up at the top of the bluffs.  It would take him 1/2 hour to drive his horse and buggy up to his house and another 1/2 hour to get back down even though his house was only 2 1/2 blocks away.  He enjoyed his lunch but he never could take a nap as he'd run out of time!  

Once when traveling in Europe, he had seen a cable car and he thought that would be the answer to his dilemma.  He petitioned the city to build a cable car on the bluffs.  They agreed to it on June 5 of that year.  And by July 25 it was operating!  (In this day and age, it would have been a 3 year operation!)  

A Swiss-style car with a steam engine was hauled up and down by a hemp rope.  It wasn't long before neighbors asked him for rides also.  In 1884, there was a fire. He had it rebuilt and this time he charged 5 cents a ride.  After another fire in 1893, Mr. Graves could no longer afford to have it rebuilt, but as the folk on the bluff had come to depend on the cable as a mode of transportation, they banded together to form the Fenelen Place Elevator Company.  

In 1977, the cable cars were completely rebuilt with a modern gear box and motor.  Today you can take a round trip for $4, children $2.  You can even take your bicycle for an additional $1.  Open April through November.

* * *

We drove to Harrisonville to meet up with our son and his wife.  We needed to get home that night so would not be able to take Emeri all the way home to Arkansas.

Once we hit Kansas, the bugs began to splatter against the windshield.  Why are there so many bugs in Kansas??



I love watching the sun set!





Do you remember the song "Sunrise Sunset"?

Sunrise, sunsetSunrise, sunsetSwiftly flow the daysSeedlings turn overnight to sunflowersBlossoming even as they gaze
Sunrise, sunsetSunrise, sunsetSwiftly fly the yearsOne season following anotherLaden with happiness and tearsOne season following anotherLaden with happiness and tears

I was thinking about our days; sunrises to sunsets.  How are we to live our lives?  The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:1-2 said this:

"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love." New Living Translation

I like how the Amplified Version puts it:

"...I appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation] with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.

There are many verses that speak about this, but here is one more.  Colossians 1:10.   "...that the way you live will always please the Lord and honour Him, so that you will always be doing good, kind things for others, while all the time you are learning to know God better and better."